Visual search behavior and defensive tactical performance during small-sided conditioned soccer games

Visual search behavior was examined in situ according to high and low defensive tactical performance of soccer players. Ten university soccer players (24.25±2.51yrs) were evaluated. The field tests consisted of 2 v 1+GK small-sided conditioned game tasks. Player ́s defensive tactical performance was assessed based on core tactical principles of soccer. Visual search data was recorded using a Tobii pro glasses 2 eye-movement registration system in which the fallowing was defined the total fixation duration per locations, PlayerBall, Ball, SpacePlayer, Space and Undefined. Results displayed significant differences between high and low groups to defensive tactical performance. For visual search the high performance players showed higher to total fixation duration in player in ball possession than low performance players. Fixation Location has no statistical main effect in the high performance group. However, low performance group depicted a longer duration fixating in the ball than player in ball possession location. AUTHORS: Maickel Padilha 1,2,3 Rafael Bagatin 1,2 André Milheiro 1,2 Fernando Tavares 1,2 Filipe Casanova 1,2 Júlio Garganta 1,2 1 Center of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport (FADEUP), University of Porto, Portugal. 2 Center of Studies of Sports Games, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal 3 Scholarship CNPq – Brazil Comportamento de busca visual e performance tática defensiva durante jogos reduzidos condicionados de futebol